The Executive Branch of Government in the P.R.C.

The head of state of China is the president (Hu Jintao, since March 2003,
when he succeeded Jiang Zemin). The vice president is Zeng Qinghong (since March
2003; he
succeeded Hu). Articles 79–80 of the constitution provide for a president
and vice president
elected by the National People’s Congress (NPC) for five-year terms and
no more than two
consecutive terms. The president “engages in activities involving State
affairs and receives
foreign diplomatic represents.” In pursuance of the decisions of the NPC
Standing Committee,
the president appoints and recalls plenipotentiary representatives abroad and
ratifies and
abrogates treaties and important agreements concluded with foreign states.

The vice president
assists the president in his work, “may exercise such parts of the functions
and powers of the
President as the President may entrust to him,” and succeeds to the presidency
should the office
of president become vacant. Should both offices become vacant, the chairman
of the NPC
Standing Committee becomes acting president until the NPC elects a new president
and vice
president.

The government is led by the State Council, the equivalent of a cabinet. The
State Council is
headed by a premier (Wen Jiabao, since March 2003). There also are four vice
premiers and five
state councillors (one of whom is the secretary general of the State Council).
One of the vice
premiers and two of the state councillors double as ministers handling such
key portfolios as
national defense, public security, and public health. In 2006 there were 22
ministries and four
commissions subordinate to the State Council.

In addition, the People’s Bank of China (China’s
central bank) and the National Audit Office are part of the State Council system.
The five-year
terms of office run concurrently with those of the National People’s Congress
(NPC) and are
limited to no more than two consecutive terms. Executive meetings of the State
Council are
attended by the premier, vice premiers, state councillors, and secretary general
of the State
Council. The State Council reports on its work to the NPC and, when the NPC
is not in session,
to its Standing Committee.